Exodus 7:12 kjv

For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.

Exodus 7:12 nkjv

For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods.

Exodus 7:12 niv

Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.

Exodus 7:12 esv

For each man cast down his staff, and they became serpents. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.

Exodus 7:12 nlt

They threw down their staffs, which also became serpents! But then Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.

Exodus 7 verses

Exodus 7 12 Meaning

Exodus 7:12 depicts the initial confrontation between the power of God, manifested through Aaron, and the occult practices of Pharaoh's magicians. When both sides cast down their staffs, they miraculously transformed into serpents. However, Aaron's staff, acting as God's instrument, supernaturally consumed the staffs of the magicians, thereby demonstrating the supreme, all-consuming power and authority of Yahweh over all human and demonic forces, including the gods and magic of Egypt.

Exodus 7 12 Context

Exodus chapter 7 marks the beginning of the divine judgment upon Egypt, manifested through the plagues. The preceding chapters (Exodus 5-6) detail Moses' initial failed attempts to persuade Pharaoh, God's renewed promises, and the calling of Aaron as Moses' spokesman. Verse 12 is the climax of the opening scene where God establishes His authority over Pharaoh and the Egyptian pantheon. This act is not just a parlor trick, but a direct challenge to the source of Pharaoh's perceived power, which was intrinsically linked to Egyptian deities and their magical arts. The historical context reveals that magic and sorcery were central to Egyptian religious and societal life, with Pharaoh himself considered divine. This initial sign sets the stage for the escalating conflict, demonstrating that Yahweh's power would systematically dismantle every aspect of Egyptian spiritual and political authority, proving His unmatched sovereignty.

Exodus 7 12 Word analysis

• For every man (כָּל־אִישׁ - kol-ish): Signifies that not just one, but all of Pharaoh's wise men, sorcerers, and magicians (mentioned in Exod 7:11) participated. This emphasizes the comprehensive nature of the Egyptian opposition against Moses and Aaron, yet their combined effort ultimately proved futile against God's power.
• threw down (וַיַּשְׁלִיכוּ - vayashliku): From the root שָׁלַךְ (shalak), meaning "to throw, cast down, abandon." This action directly parallels Moses and Aaron's earlier action (Exod 7:10), showing an attempt to imitate divine power, highlighting the contest.
• his staff (מַטֵּהוּ - mattehu): Refers to a rod or stick. In ancient cultures, a staff could symbolize authority, leadership, and power, or simply be a walking stick. Here, it is an instrument through which power—divine or magical—is manifested.
• and they became (וַיִּהְיוּ - vayihyu): From הָיָה (hayah), "to be, become, exist." This denotes a transformation, suggesting a genuine, though limited, supernatural manifestation on the part of the magicians, implying not mere trickery but an underlying (demonic) power at work.
• serpents (תַנִּינִים - tanninim): This plural form of תַנִּין (tannin) is significant. While often translated "serpent" or "snake," tannin can also refer to a large sea monster, dragon, or crocodile-like creature (cf. Exod 7:9 where God specifically tells Aaron it will become a tannin). In Ancient Near Eastern cosmology, a "dragon" often symbolized chaotic primeval forces or great mythical beasts. In Egypt, serpents held religious significance (e.g., Wadjet, the cobra goddess) and represented royal power (the Uraeus on Pharaoh's crown). By turning Aaron's staff into a tannin and having it consume others, God demonstrated His sovereignty over cosmic chaos, natural powers, and Egyptian deities.
• but Aaron's staff (וּמַטֵּה אַהֲרֹן - umateh Aharon): This highlights the distinction and superiority of Aaron's staff, acting under God's explicit instruction and power. It's the singular, God-empowered instrument versus the collective, limited power of the magicians.
• swallowed up (בָּלַע - bala): This verb signifies to "swallow, consume, engulf, overwhelm, destroy utterly." This is a definitive action, not just a stronger presence. It signifies complete nullification and subjugation of the magicians' power. This physical act represents the complete spiritual victory of Yahweh over the powers arrayed against Him.
• their staffs (אֶת־מַטֹּתָם - et-mattotam): The plural here (all their staffs) signifies the totality of their defeat. All their individual efforts and combined magical prowess were utterly absorbed and nullified by God's single demonstration of power.

• Words-group Analysis:
• "every man threw down his staff, and they became serpents": This phrase underlines the apparent equality or imitation initially. The magicians seemingly duplicated Aaron's sign. This suggests a true manifestation, even if from a darker source, thereby highlighting that the contest was not a simple trick, but a supernatural contest of wills and powers.
• "but Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs": This phrase demonstrates the overwhelming qualitative superiority of God's power. It was not merely bigger or more numerous, but utterly absorbed the opposing manifestations. This is a decisive victory, symbolizing God's ultimate authority and supremacy over all other powers, visible or invisible, divine or demonic. It is a polemical statement against Egyptian polytheism and magical claims.

Exodus 7 12 Bonus section

The event in Exodus 7:12 sets a theological precedent, emphasizing that God does not merely surpass opposing forces; He devours them, indicating total assimilation and nullification. This concept echoes themes seen elsewhere in scripture where divine power utterly consumes what stands against it, whether it's the earth swallowing rebels (Num 16:32), or Christ casting out demons and destroying the works of the devil. The magicians’ inability to restore their devoured staffs underscores the finality of this divine judgment. Furthermore, rabbinic tradition, and later the New Testament (2 Tim 3:8), name the chief magicians as Jannes and Jambres, adding a specific historical context to these unnamed individuals in Exodus. This story is often cited as a demonstration that while demonic power can mimic divine acts to deceive, it is ultimately always limited and subordinate to the omnipotent power of God.

Exodus 7 12 Commentary

Exodus 7:12 succinctly reveals the supremacy of Yahweh over all rival powers, especially those associated with Egypt's magical arts and deities. The seemingly identical initial sign—staffs turning into serpents—establishes a direct confrontation. However, the subsequent action, where Aaron's serpent-staff completely devoured the magicians' serpent-staffs, definitively declares Yahweh's absolute and qualitative superiority. This was not a tie or a partial victory; it was an annihilation of their power, signaling that the "gods" of Egypt were nothing before the true God. This foundational event serves as a warning that occultic practices and human efforts, no matter how seemingly powerful, are utterly consumed and defeated by God's will and power. It foreshadows God's complete victory over Pharaoh and the entire Egyptian system in the upcoming plagues, demonstrating that He alone is sovereign.